If at first you don't succeed, try again at a much bigger and more demanding job.

Well, try for that if you're A.J. Clemente, the North Dakota news anchor who was fired for cussing within his first few seconds on air. On Thursday, the unemployed journalist dropped by The Late Show With David Letterman to chat about his career-altering gaffe and what new job opportunities might come from it.

"I shouldn't have said the words to begin with," he said. "But it was a perfect storm of a whole bunch of mistakes."

Dave, kindhearted TV vet he is, had some kind words forA.J. "This is nothing; people who have been in the business for decades have had this happen to them. Some even knowing they were on camera have done things like this," he said. "You my friend, have nothing to worry about."

That said, is A.J. done with the news business? "I've thought about it," he said. "But if ESPN comes knocking…"